What Jay Norvell said after CSU football’s win over New Mexico

The Colorado State football team now has 13 wins in a row against New Mexico.

The Rams took down New Mexico 17-6 in front of a sold out crowd at Canvas Stadium on Saturday.

CSU (5-3, 3-0 Mountain West) is now one win from bowl eligibility.

Here’s what CSU coach Jay Norvell said after the win.

Jay Norvell opening thoughts on win over New Mexico

“Really proud of the team. We’ve settled down and started really preparing in a mature way the last month. Really proud of how our team has practiced, how our coaches have worked and prepared our players and how our players have taken on game day. I think just that it shows in the energy that we’re playing with, the physicality, the fundamentals that we’re playing with is starting to show. We’ve really tried to go back and practice and really emphasize those areas to play consistently week-in and week-out. We’re starting to see it. Really proud of our defense. The effort that we showed tonight, the attention to detail, the turnovers, how we covered, how we kept this quarterback in the pocket. This quarterback (Devon Dampier) was their best player. They made yards when he scrambled and when he got out of the pocket. We made a special, special effort of keeping him in the pocket and making him throw. He’s a very good player. They have a very good offensive team but I’m really proud of the way our defense showed up tonight and played. Our offense was physical. I have to tip my hat to Brayden (Fowler-Nicolosi). I pulled him aside and I told him ‘Listen, it’s your job to put this team in position to win, take care of the football.’ We did tonight, we didn’t have any turnovers. Our defense got four. That was the difference in the game, in my opinion. We had more rushing attempts than them. We kind of just controlled the game. It’s a real positive step for us.”

Jay Norvell on the sellout crowd at Canvas Stadium

“Our crowd stayed to the end. Our students were amazing. They were very loud on third down and it made a difference today. When I took this job I dreamed about playing in Canvas and having that kind of atmosphere and we’re starting to get it and I’m very, very excited about that. This has got to be the hardest place for people to come in to play and we’re beginning to make it hard.”

More: Colorado State on record attendance pace as Rams sellout vs New Mexico

Jay Norvell on CSU’s defensive effort against New Mexico

“I just think consistency. I think we have some kids that are emerging with confidence. I really like the way we covered today. We were aggressive in our coverage. We were challenging receivers. I’m very proud of our pass rush. We lost a guy like Mo Kamara (to the NFL), who was a dominant pass rusher. I knew we were going to have to do it by technique and discipline and being relentless and that’s what we were tonight. A lot of different guys. (Gabe) Kirschke and Mukendi (Wa-Kalonji) and Nuer (Gatkuoth). DeAndre Gill played tonight, he hadn’t played so far this year. Kennedy McDowell. I can’t praise Cam Bariteau and James Mitchell enough. We have a lot of big guys on this team that don’t ever get their name called. They’re beat up during the week and they’re sore but they give us everything they have. Those two guys (Bariteau and Mitchell) really played well tonight.”

Jay Norvell on CSU’s style

“We’re not really worried about style points, to be honest with you. We want to do the things we have to do to win. That’s what we’re finding out how to do. We still have to be better in spurts in the second half offensively.”

Jay Norvell on defense holding tight in second half

“I’m proud of that and I expect that. We have great leadership on defense with Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn and Chase Wilson. They do a great job, along with Cam and J-Mitch. We knew it was going to be a long game. Very different than the game a week ago (against Air Force). The style is completely different. Longer game, more running for the defense, more covering. I thought they adjusted and handled that. We’re trying to do things offensively to keep them off the field so they can rest. That’s helped as well.”

Jay Norvell on the offense not turning the ball over

“It was good. I think Brayden’s been doing a great job taking care of the ball. He’s really cut his turnovers down. We’ve been fumbling the football and we just went back and pounded the fundamentals. Turnover circuit, we want back to Day 1 of training camp. We’ve got to continue to do that. The guys were mindful of that. We just have to build on that. I’m just determined to be a team that continues to get better as the season finishes. We’ve always taken great pride in that.”

Jay Norvell on Kobe Johnson

“I just think it shows the unselfishness of him as a player in finding ways to contribute. He threw a touchdown pass a week ago. This week he has the big punt return. I just had a lot of confidence when we lost Tory (Horton). Kobe is just such a veteran player. He has so much confidence in situations. I told Tommy (Perry) I want to see Kobe back there and give him a chance. It gives him a chance to get his hands on the ball. He’s not getting the snaps on offense that he once got, but what a valuable player he is to have.”

Jay Norvell on the goal-line stop to open third quarter

“Really big. That goal line stand was really big. Our guys just kept playing. There’s been times in the past where we get a negative play or team drives the ball down and you can feel momentum switch. We’ve tried to stress with our guys that momentum is just attitude. It’s just attitude. To get it back is focus on the next play, focus on techniques and fundamentals you’ve got to do and we can get it right back. We have plenty of capable players. We’ve got plenty of guys who have ability to make big plays.”

Jay Norvell on CSU’s stylistic change

“You’ve got to find ways to keep people’s points down if you’re going to win consistently. Sometimes when you’re freewheeling you don’t do that. You’re not on the field long enough, your defense doesn’t rest and the other offense gets a chance for more strikes. It’s just like an analogy in baseball. If you give people enough at-bats, they’re going to finally get hits on you. We’re trying to limit their at-bats and play complimentary football on offense and defense. I think it’s helping our defense be fresher and be more effective. We’ve got to find ways to execute better and finish and score more points. We’ll keep working through that. I’m really proud of the special teams plays because that was important as well…We’re just trying to be on the right side of the ledger. They count the W’s the same whether it’s five points or 50 points. At the end of the year, people really don’t care. We’ll keep trying to find ways to keep on the right side of the ledger.”

Jay Norvell on importance of growth of off-field habits

“I put keys to victory and I talk about all those things on Monday and then I talk about them on Friday. We’re very aware. I think we’re a more knowledgeable team. I think we understand football better. I think we have a bunch of kids that are studying football. When you’re in a program that they haven’t been winning, they don’t do that. That’s been learned behavior to watch film every day and study your opponent and understand the game plan and get with your coaches. We have a lot of kids that are investing and improving as players and they’re preparing themselves to play on Saturday’s. In these critical moments where they have to make adjustments, that comes from a lot of hard work and preparation. Our guys are learning how to do that and be a winning football team.”

Jay Norvell on becoming a winning program

“If you want to win, you have to take a hard road. It’s not easy and it’s not for the faint of heart and it’s not for the weak. The weak get forgotten. We talk about that all the time. We have to make the choice to do that hard things to help us be in a position to win on Saturday’s.”

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.